Dogs are curious and active animals, especially in the puppy stage. An example of curiosity and excitability is when they're in the biting phase of the puppy stage. While the biting phase often starts out very cute, and owners often make a game of it, it can turn into a nuisance. There's nothing more embarrassing than having a puppy that wants to bite and gnaw on everything in your home, including visitors!
Not only do you risk having your puppy accidentally hurt someone or something during the biting phase, but they can also wreak havoc on your furniture, clothing, and other household items. Whether you're in the middle of the biting phase or simply want to be prepared for it when it starts, GoodCharlie Energy has the answers.
There are several reasons why dogs go through a biting phase as they're developing.
One of the main reasons that dogs bite things is because they're curious. Think of your puppy's teeth like tiny little claws or hands. They don't have actual hands to pick things up and examine or taste them, so they do it with their mouths.
However, puppies don't realize that when they do this, they could potentially hurt whatever they're biting. They don't mean to be malicious during this stage. They're simply exploring the things around them to see how they taste and feel.
Just like with human beings, teething is a natural stage all living creatures go through. If you're a parent, you remember how hard the teething stage was for your child because of how painful it is for them. You likely also remember that during the teething phase, your toddler was biting anything it could get their hands on, and the teething stage for your puppy is no different.
The final popular reason that puppies go through a biting stage is that it's how they play. Your dog doesn't realize at such a young age that they're capable of hurting someone when they bite them. They're simply engaging their natural instinct to play, and biting is a big part.
However, it's because of this final reason that putting a stop to the biting phase is so important. While your puppy isn't going to hurt you and rarely break skin when they bite you in the puppy stage, they can do some serious damage when they're adults. If you don't break the habit when you're a pup, your dog will grow into a big biting machine that could accidentally hurt someone someday.
Simply put, the biting stage will last as long as you let it. Sure, your dog will be in the teething stage for three to six months when they're young, but that doesn't mean they have to bite you or someone else. In general, however, your dog will want to chew everything in sight for the first three to six months of its life.
Now that you have a better idea of why your puppy is biting everything in sight, let's look at how to stop it.
You can first try to teach your puppy how to be gentle when they bite with "bite inhibition." Essentially, bite inhibition is when your puppy bites something without the intention of clamping down and hurting it. Think of it as a playful nibble rather than a chomp.
Teaching bite inhibition is easier said than done, however. One thing you can try, however, is to let out a yelp anytime they bite you too hard. After all, your dog doesn't want to hurt you. They just want to play. If bite inhibition isn't working out, however, you should try to put a stop to biting altogether.
If you're having a good time with your pup and they bite you, you should immediately stop playing with them. You should also turn around and cross your arms, tucking them under your armpits. Your pup wants to play and have a good time, so it serves as a sort of punishment when you stop playing with them after a bite.
The premise behind stopping the biting stage is to keep your dog from hurting someone. By giving your dog a chew toy, you're giving them a chance to exercise their teeth and bite without hurting anyone. Chew toys will help your dog understand what's ok to bite and what is off limits.
One of the reasons your dog might be biting you is because they have too much energy. Taking them for a walk or to a dog park will give them a healthy outlet for their energy rather than through biting.
While punishing wrong behavior is essential, rewarding good behavior is even more critical. You'll soon find out that dogs often respond better to positive reinforcement than to negative reinforcement. Therefore, it's a good idea to have a treat handy for times when you tell your pup to stop biting, and they listen.
Your pup craves quality time and attention above all else. If you put them in a timeout because they bit you, they'll eventually pick up on why they're in a timeout and stop the behavior that put them there. It may take some time, but dogs are intelligent animals that crave your love and attention and will do whatever it takes to get it.
If you've tried everything and nothing is getting your pup to stop biting you, it might be time to call the professionals. Professional dog trainers are specialists who understand dogs and why they do the things they do. As such, they also have intimate knowledge about teaching them good behaviors and getting rid of bad ones.
However, you mustn't wait too long because dogs are easier to teach when they're in the puppy stage. The older your dog gets, the harder it will be to put a stop to its biting.